title="[10]" id="pgepubid00027"/> A Verb has two Numbers the Singular and the Plural; and three Persons in each Number; as I am, thou art, he is. We are, ye are, they are.

The same is to be observed in every Mood and in every Tense but in the Infinitive, which has neither Number nor Person.

Of  MOODS.

A mood is the Manner of conjugating Verbs agreeably to the different Actions or Affections to be expressed.

There are four Moods, the Indicative, the Imperative, the Conjunctive, and the Infinitive.

The Indicative Mood expresseth the Action or Passion simply directly and absolutely; as I love, I have loved, I will love.

The Imperative commands or forbids; as come, go, begone.

The Conjunctive expresses the Action or Passion conditionally and is always joined with the Indicative, or the same Mood; as I will love you, if you wou'd love me; I wou'd dance, if you wou'd dance.

The Infinitive expresses the Action or Passion indeterminately without any Regard to Time, Place, Number, or Person; as to love, to be loved.

Of the TENSES.

Tense is an Inflection of Verbs, whereby they are made to signify, and distinguish the Circumstance of Time.

There are five Tenses, the Present Tense, the Preterimperfect, the Preterperfect, the Preterpluperfect, and the Future.

1. The Present Tense expresses the Time, that now is; as I sup.

2. The Preterimperfect Tense denotes the historical Relation of a past Action, but yet not perfectly compleated, when joined to another Action that is perfectly compleated; as when or while I supped he came in.

3. The Preterperfect Tense expresses the Time Past perfectly; as I have supped.

4. The Preterpluperfect Tense expresses the Time Past doubly; as I had supped.

5. The Future Tense expresses the Time to come; as I shall sup, I will sup.

Of the CONJUGATION.

Conjugation is the Variation of Verbs through all their Moods and Tenses; and the English Verbs are chiefly conjugated by auxiliary Signs; as to love; or by auxiliary Verbs; as I am loved, I have loved.

Of the AUXILIARY Signs.

T he auxiliary Signs are Words that serve to express the Variations of the Verb.

The Imperative Mood has the Signs do, let; as—do thou love, let him love.

The Infinitive Mood has the Signs to, about; as to love, about to love.

The other Moods have the auxiliary Signs following.

Of the Auxiliary VERBS.

The auxiliary Verbs are only two, to Have and to Be; which cannot be conjugated without the auxiliary Signs, and without the reciprocal Assistance of each other.

To HAVE.

Indicative MOOD.

Present Tense.

Sing. I have; thou hast; he hath, or has. Plur. We have; ye have; they have.

Preterimperfect Tense.

Sing. I had; thou hadst; he had. Plur. We had; ye had; they had.

Preterperfect Tense.

Sing. I have had; thou hast had; he hath, or has had. Plur. We have had; ye have had; they have had.

Preterpluperfect Tense.

Sing. I had had; thou hadst had; he had had. Plur. We had had; ye had had; they had had.

Future Tense.

Sing. I shall, or will have; thou shalt, or wilt have; he shall, or will have. Plur. We shall, or will have; ye shall, or will have; they shall, or will have.

Imperative MOOD.

Present and Future.

Sing. Let me have; do thou have, or have thou; let him have. Plur. Let us have; do ye have, or have ye; let them have.

Conjunctive MOOD.

Present Tense.

Sing. I may, or can have; thou may'st, or can'st have; he may, or can have. Plur. We may, or can have; ye may, or can have; they may, or can have.

Preterimperfect Tense.

Sing. I must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have; thou must, might'st, woud'st, coud'st, or shoud'st have; he must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have. Plur. We must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have; ye must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have; they must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have.

Preterperfect Tense.

Sing. I must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or